Image
Heather Wright Photo
A transport truck heading eastbound on Highway 402 near Oil Heritage Road passes heaving concrete in the westbound lane around 7 pm Canada Day.

Highway 402 buckles near Reece’s Corner as temps hit 34 C on Canada Day

July 1, 2026

Heather Wright/The Independent

It appears the extreme heat is causing the concrete on Highway 402 near the Oil Heritage Road exit to buckle again.

Around 5 pm Canada Day, Lambton OPP closed the westbound lanes of the highway at Reece’s Corners “due to hazardous road conditions.” Traffic was being directed down London Line to get back on Highway 402 at Mandaumin Road.

Concrete just past the Oil Heritage Line overpass on westbound Highway 402 heaved, apparently in the heat, around 5 pm Canada Day.

It’s not the first time the roadway has buckled during extreme weather.

Last June, the same stretch of the 402 was closed when the road heaved in extreme heat in approximately the same spot. In July, another piece of the highway on the eastbound side between Airport and Mandaumin Road. Extreme heat in 2019 also lead to the road cracking.

The temperature in Lambton between 3 and 4 pm Wednesday reached 34 C according to Environment Canada records.

After the June event, the Ministry of Transportation put sealed the roadway and said the roadway would have a more extensive fix in the fall.

It’s unclear if that ever happened.

For now, the OPP is advising drivers to plan an alternate route and check www.511.on.ca for road conditions.

Share This

Image
Front Page

Dennis leaves all-candidates forum before it begins

September 23, 2026

Cathy Dobson/The Independent An abrupt departure by Bill Dennis at a youth-led all-candidates forum Wednesday means the five Sarnia mayoral candidates have not yet faced off during this municipal election campaign. Numerous people witnessed a verbal altercation between Dennis and a youth prior to the event held at the Lambton College events centre.   He left shortly after, according to Michelle

Read More

Image
Front Page

OPP looking for information after reports of a man in the St. Clair River under Bluewater Bridge

September 23, 2026

The Independent Police are looking for a man after calls about someone going into the St. Clair River near at the Bluewater Bridge. Lambton OPP received a call around 6 pm, Wednesday, saying a man was seen entering the water at the Bluewater Bridge. Police says he was last seen wearing blue swim shorts and a grey sweater. Sarnia Fire

Read More

Image
Front Page

Good news – for now – at Village Green

September 23, 2026

Cathy Dobson/The Independent The nine tenants remaining at Sarnia’s Village Green townhouse complex are feeling some relief today after their landlord withdraw his application to have them evicted during renovations. “It’s some comfort for us. I was kind of shocked,” says Robyn Johnson who has been fighting what she calls a renoviction since receiving an N-13  notice last winter.  N-13s

Read More

Image
Front Page

MTO planning snow hedgerows along 402 to improve safety

September 23, 2026

It’s filed notice to expropriate 36 parcels of land on the north side of the highway Heather Wright/The Independent The Ministry of Transportation is planning to plant 30 km of snow hedgerows along Highway 402 in London and Middlesex. And it’s served notice it may use expropriation to claim the land it needs for the project. “The Ministry of Transportation

Read More